Sequoia,
built in 1925, is probably the most famous Trumpy to have come down the
ways of this venerable builder. Not only is she a piece of boatbuilding
history, she’s also an important piece of American history. To quote
Rear Admiral Robert C. Mandeville, “On the decks of this great vessel,
wars were forged, treaties were negotiated, and the future of our nation
secured.”

Over the course of 45
years, she served seven presidents, and many important events took place
onboard. Some of these include President Johnson pitching Congressmen
his “Great Society” program, part of which would eventually
become Medicare; President Nixon meeting with Russian Premier Brezhnev
in 1973 regarding arms control; and Jackie Kennedy hosting President Kennedy’s
46th (and final) birthday party.

Sequoia was taken
out of Presidential service in 1977 and is privately owned by Gary Silversmith,
a Washington, D.C., attorney. She is currently available for charters,
but Silversmith hopes to make this famous Trumpy available to the general
public.

According to Bill Codus,
chief of protocol for Sequoia and a trustee for the USS SequoiaPreservation Trust , the trust plans to make the vessel “available
for the President and Congress. It will also be used for naval sea cadets
and available for students to learn about the history of the boat.”
Codus says that tours and briefings will be accessible to schools as well.

But for this to happen,
the foundation needs to raise funds from government and private sources.
For more information about this historic vessel and the foundation trying
to save her, Phone: (202) 872-8228. —E.M.